Welcome to the Northerner, Guardian Unlimited's weekly digest of the best of the northern press.

POPULAR VOICES

From peak time television to those dreadful advertising "voice-overs" sandwiched between top-rated programmes, they seem to be everywhere: young, northern personalities, with an earthy regional twang, sometimes over-emphasised.

It might be lilting Geordie, occasionally more guttural Scouse, or - come in Radio One's Sara Cox - earthy Boltonian. Perhaps it is premature to argue that strong regional accents - as opposed to dialect - are replacing that bland, carefully-enunciated brand of English - for good old received pronunciation (RP) is alive and well in some quarters - that seemed to be the essential element underpinning every production.

But putting aside the tendency towards "estuary English", or what some have unkindly labelled "Essex with knobs on", northerners were again celebrating this week after winning a clutch of "mini Oscars" at the National Television Awards - held in London (the Royal Albert Hall), naturally!

Step forward that cheeky Geordie duo, Ant and Dec (Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly), who won not only the "most popular presenters" category, but also walked away with a special recognition award for services to television - Pop Idol and the hugely successful "rumble in the jungle" series recently (live from Oz) I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

If that wasn't enough, the revived Auf Wiedersehen Pet (mainly Geordie brickies turned bridge builders in Arizona) won the most popular drama award - while in Sunderland they were celebrating the success of Lauren Laverne. Who she?

From fronting a rock band called Kenickie in the mid-90s (two albums and four top 40 hits since you ask), Lauren has apparently been all over the television screens over the past 12 months, from the BBCs coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, to Channel Four's breakfast show and - now - Channel Five's Pop.

"Lauren's Wearside wit has been a welcome addition to our TV screens in an age of bland, production-line presenters," according to the Journal, Newcastle.

'COSTA DEL SEAHOUSES'

Not too welcome, however, is a plan for a five-storey apartment block overlooking the quaint harbour at the old Northumberland fishing port of Seahouses. The town, with its share of fish and chip shops and the odd amusement arcade, has had to endure unfair jibes of creeping "Blackpoolisation", with its coach parties and (very occasional) rowdiness.

But it has retained a certain charm, with a small fishing fleet, the county's finest pub (the Ship, naturally), and some of Britain's best beaches. But the Berwick Advertiser reports outraged locals warning of a dreaded "Costa-isation" with plans to replace the former Viking restaurant and entertainment complex with 25 apartments and shops.

The local parish council says it is a "major overdevelopment" and have urged borough planners to reject it. "It might well work on Newcastle's Quayside, the south coast, or the continent, but it doesn't fit in with Seahouses," says parish councillor Ray Shepherd. "We need to have something a bit more sympathetic to the area ... this looks like the upper decks of a cruise liner."

LAKELAND HERITAGE

The Lake District has had its share of (relatively) garish developments, particularly around the largest lake of Windermere. But thankfully the National Park Authority, with its special planning powers, has managed to preserve the best of an area which includes England's highest peak, Scafell Pike.

Now the Westmoreland Gazette reports that it is pressing ahead with plans to lobby the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for World Heritage status. National park officer, Paul Tiplady, says widespread support would be needed to persuade the government to press for such an accolade.

While the award itself would not bring any additional statutory controls or financial support, it would ensure international recognition - at a time when rural England was under significant pressure. "Our true worth would be there for all to see," he said.

CYCLE POWER

Hard-pressed police forces are apparently bringing out the begging bowl. In Beverley, East Yorkshire - on the fringes of Hull - a bike shop has donated a cycle to the constabulary so that officers patrolling the town's estates can "step up a gear by hopping on a bike to pursue calls and get around their patch".

PC Andy Redshaw was apparently thrilled. Soon after mounting his new steed, he "assisted in the arrest of a man" on the Grovehill estate. The Hull Daily Mail reports: "A man was spotted cycling away from the scene of a domestic dispute and, within seconds, PC Redshaw shouted to say he was 'right behind him'."

INSIDER TRADING?

Two teachers at Bootham School, in York, are reported to be quite a few pounds better off after gambling on who would succeed Peter Reid as manager of the Premiership soccer club, Sunderland. With odds of 66-1, this was quite a punt. But gambling? Maybe not.

As it happens, the daughters of Sunderland's chairman, Bob Murray, attend the Quaker school - which, officially, does not approve of gambling (the two concerned are not thought not to be Quakers).

Headmaster Ian Small told the Yorkshire Post the two had a flutter and their win was just a coincidence. "I have been assured that no information was passed on to a member of staff." Really? Mr Murray said it was possible his children could have "overheard names mentioned at home concerning the appointment of a new manager". Intriguingly, he added: "While my children did not volunteer information, I also accept that some individuals may have tried to interpret their reactions when the matter was discussed in their presence."

Decoded, that means the teachers and pupils could have been chatting about life, the universe, and - who knows? - sport.

NORTHERN SPORT

And the new Sunderland manager, of course, is Howard Wilkinson, who took Leeds to the top of the league during the last season of the old first division (before the Premiership) in the mid-90s before moving to the FA to become its technical director and - briefly - acting manager.

Wilko is apparently a hard taskmaster, with a military-style discipline, according to the Leeds midfielder, David Batty. While respecting the manager's tough regime, he apparently has few happy memories of life at Elland Road under Wilko.

At Sunderland, he has his work cut out. There is no money in the kitty for new players. Fans are desperate for some success - which means winning the odd game and creeping up mid-table from the basement.

After supervising his first training sessions, Wilko warned that players not prepared to give 100% would be shown the door. This is no idle threat. He needs to sell quickly in order to raise funds for new players.

WE RECOMMEND YOU SEE...

Sir Terry Farrell's Design for Life exhibition at the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, which runs until November 9.

On display are preparatory drawings, sketches, designs, photographs and models from the London-based international architect, who graduated from the university's school of architecture in 1961.

Occupying four of the Hatton's five galleries, the exhibition features a collection of "40 years of built projects" and - intriguingly - in another section embraces the theme of "how architects visualise", a diverse mix of Sir Terry's work from school and university to the present day.

Naturally his prize-winning Centre for Life, in Newcastle - a genetics centre come visitor attraction exploring life itself - features alongside his innovative Transportation Centre in Seoul, South Korea.

AND FINALLY

The excellent bi-monthly Northumbrian magazine (Publishers: Powdene Publicity, Newcastle NE6 1TZ) features those "grey natives of the Farne islands", just off the Northumberland coast.

"They're big, they're ugly, and they break wind with remarkable regularity." In short, it's approaching the grey seal breeding season. Hundreds will soon be "hailing themselves from the sea to give birth and to mate".

The magazine notes: "It's a magnificent wildlife spectacle ... and it happens only a short distance from our shores." Within a mile or so of Seahouses, actually.